Hearts 24h on - a score for Higgy

Last updated : 03 March 2013 By Firparkcorner

Although any win over Hearts in Gorgie has a special resonance for those who remember the fierce rivalry that sparked off a few decades ago, the current crisis means that the Jam Tarts are hardly the force they were in former years.  That’s not to devalue the three points, they were hard earned an well deserved.

Tynecastle

Higdon’s achievement deserves more than a passing mention.  With nine games of the season remaining our man has scored 20 competitive goals (19 in the league and 1 in the Cup).  The total comprises two hat tricks, two pairs and ten singles.  He found the net six times facing Inverness and scored three against Dundee, Aberdeen and St Johnstone.  Only Hibs and Kilmarnock have yet to fall under his spell so far.

His achievement is well short of the all time Scottish goal scoring record that remains in the name of Motherwell’s Willie MacFadyen with an amazing 52 gals in our championship year 1931/2 but a quick search through the record books suggests that we have to go back to Willie Pettigrew to find another scorer who delivered twenty goals a season.  By a weird coincidence Pettigrew was at the game and made the half time draw (he played for Hearts toward the end of his career).

The win makes us firm favourites to be in the top six when the split arrives after the next four games.  Nothing is certain but every one of the chasing pack would be happy to exchange places with us. 

It was also worth noting that the team delivered the win on the day when others were competing in the Scottish Cup quarter finals; at least we had some compensation for our non-appearance.

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